Day 10: Norway in a Nutshell: A Day on the Fjords

Early this morning, the water in the fjord outside our window was as clear as glass.  It's nice staying in a small village like this. We get to experience the quiteness of Flam before all the tourists arrive. We watched a small cruise ship silently sail into the harbor.  It was only big enough to hold 700 passengers and oddly it looked very familiar to me. I mentioned to David that in the 80's, my aunt and I had sailed on a cruise ship exactly like the one before us and as it turns out, we had. Now named the Ocean Countess, the ship had once been the Cunard Countess, a ship my aunt and I had sailed on twice.  



Today we took the Norway in a Nutshell tour. I have always known the fjords of Norway are stunningly beautiful, but to see them in person is beyond words. Our small ferry, Fjord 1, sailed through the fjords, the most scenic being the Naeroyfjorden. Tall mountains rose from the sea in the narrow inlets, many with plummeting ribbon like waterfalls. It wasn't a perfectly sunny day, but in my opinion it didn't matter at all.    









After a brief stop in Gudvangen, we continued by bus to Voss. There was an air of excitement as people rushed back and forth snapping pictures out the window. The highlight was a trip down Stalheimskleiva Road through 13 steep hairpin bends with spectacular waterfalls and an incredible view of the valley below.  



Our journey ended on the Bergen Railway which has been voted one of the most beautiful railway journeys in the world. We passed crystal clear lakes and  inlets all with pretty wooden houses.  

We are staying in Bergen, Our accommodation is just off the Bryggen.  I love the old wharf houses along the waterfront. They're UNESCO World Heritage. 





In the town they are having a game day and everyone is welcome to join in the fun.



My favorite neighborhood is on the hill behind the waterfront. The old historic wooden houses wind through narrow cobblestone streets and have flowerboxes bursting with colorful flowers.



Dinner tonight was at McDonald's. I took a class a few years ago from a professor at Boston College and he said you can always tell the cost of living of a place by visiting a McDonald's and comparing prices. We ordered two salads and two ice creams and the cost was $32. Yikes!  

The light after dinner was beautiful.  The sun does not set here until close to 10:00 pm so right now the town is alive with music and people walking around just enjoying the ambiance of this place.